'Youth deserve answers': Rahul Gandhi leads Opposition protest as both Houses adjourned till 2 pm
New Delhi: Parliament remained engulfed in protests on Monday as proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm, with the Opposition intensifying its campaign over the alleged police action against students during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' protest even after the government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
The Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members demanding accountability for the alleged use of force against students.
After the House reassembled, disruptions continued even as Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh introduced the anti-paper leak amendment Bill, forcing another adjournment till 2 pm.
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed repeated disruptions and was adjourned till 2 pm.
Outside Parliament, the Congress-led Opposition staged a fresh protest demanding an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC MP Mahua Moitra and several other Opposition leaders participated in the demonstration, carrying placards and raising slogans.
They also demanded that criminal cases registered against student protesters be withdrawn.
Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Amit Shah, sought accountability over what he described as a 'barbaric assault' on peacefully protesting students and questioned whether the Home Minister had approved the alleged use of 'lethal force', including pellet guns.
He said peaceful protest is fundamental to democracy and asserted that 'youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard.'
Opposition leaders have also indicated that they will continue to disrupt proceedings instead of participating in legislative discussions until the government responds to their demands.
Meanwhile, the Centre went ahead with its legislative agenda by introducing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
The Bill seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and proposes stricter punishment for those involved in paper leaks and examination fraud, including imprisonment of up to 10 years, fines of up to Rs 10 crore, confiscation of assets and fast-track trials aimed at delivering verdicts within three months.
The Lok Sabha is also scheduled to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, while the Rajya Sabha is expected to consider the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The confrontation marks another turbulent day in the Monsoon Session, with the Opposition maintaining pressure on the government over the NEET-UG 2026 controversy and the alleged police crackdown on student protesters, while the Centre presses ahead with key legislative business.